Adrian
Table of Contents
- How "Building in Public" Has Changed Over Time
- Personal Experience with Tech Influencers
- The Psychological and Social Implications
- What People Are Saying On X
- The Reasons Behind It
- The Legal Pitfalls of Public Financial Disclosure
- How Trust is Affected in the Long Run
- A Push for Being Real
- More Useful Resources to Read
How "Building in Public" Has Changed Over Time
There was a time when "building in public" meant sharing the ups and downs, the nitty-gritty details of creating a startup. It was about community, transparency, and learning from each other's journeys. But lately, something has shifted. What was once a genuine sharing of progress has morphed into what seems like "bragging in public.”
Personal Experience with Tech Influencers
In the past couple of years, I've seen a pretty weird trend with these so-called Tech Gurus. These individuals, who often sell online courses, constantly post on social media about how much money they've made. They show off their alleged millions of dollars with screenshots from Stripe accounts that usually miss important details like the X and Y axes. I fell into this trap myself. I joined one of these courses, lured by the promise of financial success and personal growth. But it was all superficial—a dopamine high that left me feeling empty and cheated. These people brag about their wealth on platforms like LinkedIn, X, and IndieHackers, creating an illusion of success that's hard to verify.
If you’re interested in the online course trend and how it often focuses more on appearance than real value, take a look at my thoughts.
The Psychological and Social Implications
What are these people desperately trying to achieve? Are they so insecure that they need constant affirmation? Or are they performing for attention and sales? Whatever the motivation, the impact on their audience is significant. Seeing these inflated success stories can lead to unhealthy comparisons. When you're bombarded with claims like "I made $1 million last month," it's hard not to measure yourself against these so-called gurus. This comparison can lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. 👉 Remember, "comparison is the thief of joy.”
What People Are Saying On X
The Reasons Behind It
Many of these influencers push you to buy their courses and join their Discord communities. It seems like a performance, an elaborate act to boost their sales. They're not just sharing their success (if they are actually real 🧐); they're selling a dream, often with dubious proof. I wrote a short article about the decline of authenticity on LinkedIn.
The Legal Pitfalls of Public Financial Disclosure
And let's not forget the legal and financial risks. By sharing private financial information publicly, these individuals are essentially giving free information to tax authorities. Good luck dealing with the IRS or other tax agencies if they spot discrepancies in your tax returns!
How Trust is Affected in the Long Run
This change from real sharing to just showing off is ruining trust in the community. When everyone is trying to outdo each other with inflated success stories, it becomes hard to distinguish between what's real and what's fake. The long-term impact? A community that's skeptical, disillusioned, and less willing to engage in meaningful ways.
A Push for Being Real
It's time for a return to genuine sharing, transparency, and support within the entrepreneurial and tech community. We need to move away from this culture of bragging and back to one of learning and growing together. It's okay to celebrate successes, but we should also be honest about our struggles. After all, it's through our challenges that we learn the most. Building in public isn't just about showing off your wins. It should be a way to connect, learn, and grow together.
Are you tired of the bragging culture?
More Useful Resources to Read
If you liked this post, you might also want to check out The Problem with Online Courses and Don't Compare Yourself to Others. They dive into some similar topics.